skyIdub
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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This has got to be one of the more underwhelming prospects that I can remember.....
We cleal
Dont get excited. We clearly only recruit non-US prospects now
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
I also remember folks jumping on early in his HS career that he was already looking like a flop - first time I've seen that happen that early.
Considering he was once listed as a Top 15 prospect early on in his prep career. Hard not to think this way.
disagree with this completely if they get sarr. Stojakovic is a shot creator for himself.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
So given that Toppin has spurned the NBA draft for a $4 million return to college, this must beg the question: what’s the cost of a Riley package to return? How about KJ? The foundation has been set… surely there’s a number that would catch their eyes.
According to Morez’s dad burner: we are having to go over seas because basically Brad burnt to many bridges and no 4 or 5 stars want to come here. Also we will never win a Natty according to him.
Toppin was a late 1st to early 2nd guy. Riley would probably be in the same price range. KJ would be a fool to even consider staying.
Steelyunk
- Tobacco Road
Ouch… I ended up down the rabbit hole on that one. I like Morez and hated to see him leave but the idea that he was so much tougher than anyone else on the team doesn’t hold water. He got flat out abused in that Maryland game. It was not uncommon to see him get pushed around under the hoop. It was much more common for him to get the rebound, though. So I wouldn’t characterize him or Tomi as soft. They compete. Some days you eat the bear and some days that bear eats you.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Obviously it's an individual decision but from a financial perspective based on current mocks, Riley should be going to the NBA unless a team was going to pay him in the 8-figures. Toppin is mocked to be an early second rounder, so taking $4 million instead of a non-guaranteed contract is a logical choice. If Riley gets picked in the mid-teens, he's looking at a $4-5 million guaranteed salary next year without endorsements. It also starts the clock towards him reaching that second, much more lucrative, NBA contract.
On second review, has anyone ever seen Kendrick Perkins and Morez Johnson Jr. in the same room? Can we confirm these are different people?
The difference is Toppin was being mocked in the second round, so it makes financial sense for him to come back at that price. KJ wll make a lot more than that as a lottery pick with 2 year guarantee. If Will is mid first round he should obviously go as well. It's just for the early second round guys that it makes sense to come back and earn a huge bag - particularly for Will, given he could improve his draft stock a lot by coming back IMO. He would be a primary scorer from the get go and get stronger physically and improve his defense etc. So, if he slips into early second round it would be silly for him to stay in the draft
matt1all
- Chicago, IL
KJ/lottery picks: It makes no sense to come back. 4M is equivalent to the 13th pick in the draft. But if you stay in college you could also be losing out on $ by not be able to hit your rookie extension until a year later (if you are a hit in the league. and every lottery pick thinks they are gonna get extended). Or you could get hurt, or play poorly, or stay the same and be another year older. All bad. You aren't going to jump Dybantsa and the Boozer into the top 3-5 picks. The theoretical number is too high it would hamstring the whole operation.
JT Toppin/Fringe 1st rounders: 4M becomes a lot more enticing if you are projected at pick 30 (2M/year is best case scenario) and you realize getting extended is a bit of a longshot. So you can take the 4M this year, get drafted at the 2M/year next year and you may actually be extending your high earning period.
Will Riley/mid to late firsts: 20th spot earns 2.8M. and GMs dont like giving up on top 20 selections they make for job preservation purposes so your extension odds also increase.... And his stock could take a hit because he will be over 20 years old at the 2026 draft (Ancient for NBA GMs). Probably too much downside risk for Will IMO. Now if he slides into the pick 30-35 range.... maybe there is a # that makes sense in the 4M range like toppin?
TLDR: If you are a first round lock you go -- KJ is and it seems like Will is trending there. Dame Sarr your table is ready.
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I wonder what our staff's "in" with him is though to make us feel so confident we would get him? OA recruited him out of HS, so there is a connection there, but Kentucky didn't even make his final list of 6 schools so it would seem it's not that tight of a relationship
As long as they don't say the wrong thing they should be ok. Wish this was a joke, but it's just a factual expression of what is happening.
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Lets assume we end up landing Sarr and he turns out to be an NBA player (which is what hes projected to do)
That would become BU 5th player since 2021 he has sent to the NBA - Ayo, TSJ, KJ, Riley, Sarr
(I am not including Podz, or any of the G-league players)
Before BU since the 2005 team there has only been 5 players to get NBA minutes - Malcom Hill (24 games, 3 szns), Myke Henry (20 games, 1 szn). Kendrick Nunn(5 yrs), Brandon Paul (64 games/1 szn), and Meyers Leonard (10 yrs)
*Between 2002-2006 Illinois had 9 players make and play in the league*
This is not to mention Kofi being an All-American and would've been a first round pick 10-15 years ago
This is a huge boost for a recruiting standpoint to be able to not just say but show that you know how to develop NBA talent
That would become BU 5th player since 2021 he has sent to the NBA - Ayo, TSJ, KJ, Riley, Sarr
(I am not including Podz, or any of the G-league players)
Before BU since the 2005 team there has only been 5 players to get NBA minutes - Malcom Hill (24 games, 3 szns), Myke Henry (20 games, 1 szn). Kendrick Nunn(5 yrs), Brandon Paul (64 games/1 szn), and Meyers Leonard (10 yrs)
*Between 2002-2006 Illinois had 9 players make and play in the league*
This is not to mention Kofi being an All-American and would've been a first round pick 10-15 years ago
This is a huge boost for a recruiting standpoint to be able to not just say but show that you know how to develop NBA talent
Now that we have NIL. One pro-student-athlete and pro-university NCAA change would be to allow for players to return to their school even if they are drafted. That change would not hurt anyone but the NBA.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
The only flaw I see in this plan would be the delay in roster construction, waiting to see if your NBA draftee will stay in the league or come back. But otherwise, I’d be all for this.
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